Join us in preventing landslides in Santa María, Huila
Recent heavy rains in Santa María, Huila, have triggered dangerous landslides that threaten both future harvests and farmers' livelihoods.
Our team in Santa María has reported that more than 5,500 coffee trees have been swept in these landslides, with Finca Costa Rica (A producer in our network) losing almost 1,000 trees in the first week of May.
Taking Action
At The Coffee Quest, we believe in planting solutions as bold as the coffee we love, and native trees offer a natural fortress against soil erosion: their intertwining root networks bind soil particles and reinforce sloping terrain, drastically reducing landslide risk.
If left unchecked, this problem will strip the land of its fertility and lead to increased runoff, which can cause further landslides and damage to infrastructure. Moreover, the loss of topsoil diminishes the land's ability to retain water and nutrients, making coffee plants more susceptible to drought and disease.
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Evidence taken by our team in Santa María, Huila | May 12/2025
Our Solution
Field research shows that vegetation cover can lower landslide erosion by up to 42.9%, while individual trees can cut soil displacement by as much as 70–95% within their root zones.
By focusing on planting 3,000 native seedlings, we’ll create a living barrier across critical slopes and coffee nursery perimeters, effectively preventing erosion and enhancing resilience against heavy weather.
List of Native Trees we will be planting with your help
How You Can Help!
$10: Plants 2 native trees, stabilizing approximately 2 m² of slope.
$25: Plants 5 native trees, covering about 5 m².
$50: Plants 10 native trees and funds a workshop for producers on soil erosion and prevention
$100+: Sponsors a full micro-plot (~20 m²).
Your contribution will help prevent further land degradation, protect coffee farmer livelihoods, and promote sustainable agriculture in Santa María.
Help us plant Roots That Hold in Santa María